Music

The Compton rapper's critically-acclaimed album, which was unexpectedly released last week, comes with 363,000 equivalent units including 324,000 pure album sales.

• Mar 26, 2015

AceShowbiz - Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly" has officially landed at No. 1 on Billboard 200. The critically-acclaimed album, which unexpectedly arrived last week ahead of its original March 23 release date, becomes the rapper's first to top the chart.

According to Nielsen Music, the record opens atop the list with 363,000 equivalent album units, 324,000 of which are pure album sales. That 324,000 start is the second-largest sales week of 2015, behind Drake's "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" mixtape that debuted in February with 495,000.

Trailing behind the Compton native's latest LP is last week's first placer, the "Empire" sountrack. It slips to No. 2 in its second week on the chart with 110,000 units. Rock band Modest Mouse is the second newcomer in the top 10 as their "Strangers to Ourselves" debuts at No. 3 with 77,000.

The "Fifty Shades of Grey" soundtrack holds it position steady at No. 4 with 60,000. Also a non mover, Taylor Swift's "1989" closes out the top 5 with 56,000.

At No. 6, Drizzy's "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" rises from last week's No. 7 with 52,000. Ed Sheeran's "X" also jumps one rung to No. 7 with 49,000.

Behind the British redhead is Marina and the Diamonds who scores her first top 10 album as her third studio effort "Froot" enters the chart at No. 8 with 46,000. The singer's previous two releases are 2012's "Electra Heart" and 2010's "The Family Jewels" which peaked at No. 31 and No. 138, respectively.

Sam Smith's "In the Lonely Hour" falls from last week's No. 6 to this week's No. 9 with 46,000. Maroon 5's "V" takes the last spot in the top 10 with 44,000.

1. "To Pimp a Butterfly" - Kendrick Lamar (363,000)
2. The "Empire" Soundtrack - Various Artists (110,000)
3. "Strangers to Ourselves" - Modest Mouse (77,000)
4. The "Fifty Shades of Grey" Soundtrack - Various Artists (60,000)
5. "1989" - Taylor Swift (56,000)
6. "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" - Drake (52,000)
7. "X" - Ed Sheeran (49,000)
8. "Froot" - Marina and the Diamonds (46,000)
9. "In the Lonely Hour" - Sam Smith (46,000)
10. "V" - Maroon 5 (44,000)